NYS Comptroller Releases List Of Financially Strained Communities

New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli released a statement Wednesday that included a list of 38 communities who are faced with financial issues. Among the list was the update that Rockland County is now considered the number one fiscally stressed county in the state. The town of Ramapo was included on the list as well, landing the fourth spot. According to DiNapoli he hopes that creating the list will show local officials where they rank and allow them to solve the problem before they head into bankruptcy. The list includes 14 counties, 18 towns, five cities, and one village. All of those included are under financial strains, but according to DiNapoli he ranked them to help put into perspective the seriousness of each community’s problems. Rockland is currently waiting for governor Cuomo to sign off on the $96,000,000 municipal bond that will help pay back much of the deficit, which recently got above $125,000,000. DiNapoli stated that the plan will help, and that debt is not uncommon throughout local governments. According to his audits 25 percent of counties and 11 percent of cities were considered fiscally stressed.